Sr. Human Resource Business Partner

City of Wilmington, NC; Wilmington (NC); On-site; USD 79,000 - 101,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with 4.5% city contribution

Paid holidays 13

6 weeks paid parental leave

Telework availability

Professional development

Tuition assistance

Employee Assistance Program

Life Insurance

Deferred Compensation 4.5%

NC Local Government Retirement System

Sick and vacation leave

Credit Union membership

Job summary

City of Wilmington, NC is seeking an experienced HR professional to provide strategic HR support across city departments, including executive leadership. This onsite role focuses on workforce planning, talent management, and compliant hiring practices to strengthen citywide operations.

You will utilize ATS, analyze workforce data, and lead initiatives in organizational design, training, and employee development while partnering with department heads to ensure high standards of service delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR, business/public administration or related field; at least five years in HR roles
• Experience partnering with executive leadership to develop strategic human capital initiatives
• Knowledge of recruitment, employee relations, performance management and workforce planning
• Experience with applicant tracking systems (ATS) to manage postings, applications, interview workflows, and documentation
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to influence leadership and build trust

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and consultative HR support across assigned departments
• Lead workforce planning initiatives identifying staffing needs, risks and gaps
• Utilize ATS to manage job postings, applications, interview workflows and hiring documentation
• Track recruitment metrics and identify opportunities to improve hiring outcomes
• Partner with department leadership to prioritize hiring and staffing efforts
• Ensure compliant hiring practices and consistent policy interpretation
• Support performance management, evaluations, and employee development
• Coach managers on performance, accountability, and supervision practices
• Coordinate with Employee Relations on complaints, investigations, and disciplinary matters
• Collaborate on job design, reclassifications, and compensation decisions
• Support onboarding and employee transitions with HR Operations
• Align training initiatives with organizational priorities with Organizational Development
• Maintain recruitment and workforce data in applicable systems
• Identify workforce trends and risks to inform leadership decisions
• Assist with organizational changes including restructuring and role alignment
• Ensure compliance with laws, regulations, policies and procedures
• Develop relationships across departments and leadership teams
• Drive process improvements to enhance HR service delivery
• Mentor HR Business Partners and other HR professionals
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Skills

Strategic HR

Workforce planning

Employee relations

ATS

HR analytics

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Business/Public Administration

Tools

ATS

Job description

The City of Wilmington, NC offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package built to support employees and their families. In this onsite role in Wilmington, you will partner with executive and department leadership across a high-impact portfolio, helping shape people strategies that strengthen citywide operations.

Compensation: USD 79,427 - 101,270 per year. Location: Wilmington, NC (onsite).

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus many other insurance options
• Retirement benefits including a city provided 4.5% contribution each pay period into a 401(k) account and automatic enrollment into the North Carolina Local Government Employees’ Retirement System
• Employer-paid health & wellness clinic
• Free on-site city gym access
• Paid sick and vacation leave plus 13 paid holidays per year
• 6-weeks paid parental leave
• Paid volunteer & blood donation leave
• Flex schedule and telework availability, depending on your position
• Professional development trainings & leadership initiatives
• Tuition assistance benefits and tuition reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program
• Short & Long Term Disability, Cancer & Critical Illness, Accident Insurance, Whole Life Insurance
• Life Insurance (city pays coverage valued at one times your annual salary)
• Deferred Compensation: city contributes an amount equal to 4.5% of annual salary to a 401(k) plan regardless of employee contribution
• NC Local Government Retirement System: mandatory 6% contribution every pay period
• Paid Leave (offered to employees working at least 1,000 hours annually): Sick Leave - 12 days accrued each year; Annual Leave (earn from 10 to 24 days each year); Holidays - 13 paid holidays annually; Paid Parental Leave - six weeks of paid leave for the birth, adoption or placement of a child (must run concurrently with FMLA)
• Credit Union membership

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and consultative HR support within complex, highly accountable departments across an assigned portfolio including the Police Department, City Manager’s Office, City Clerk’s Office, and City Attorney’s Office
• Serve as a trusted advisor to leaders on organizational design, workforce planning, succession planning, and talent management strategies
• Lead workforce planning initiatives by identifying current and future staffing needs, workforce risks, and talent gaps, developing proactive solutions tied to operational objectives
• Utilize applicant tracking systems (ATS) to manage job postings, candidate applications, interview workflows, and hiring documentation
• Track recruitment metrics such as time-to-fill and candidate flow, and identify opportunities to improve hiring outcomes
• Partner with department leadership to identify staffing needs and prioritize hiring efforts
• Ensure consistent and compliant hiring practices, including structured and equitable selection processes
• Support performance management practices including evaluations, corrective actions, and employee development
• Coach and influence managers on employee performance, accountability, and effective supervision practices
• Act as the initial point of contact for employee concerns and coordinate with Employee Relations on complaints, investigations, and disciplinary matters
• Ensure consistent interpretation and application of HR policies, procedures, and practices across assigned departments
• Coordinate with Compensation & Classification on job design, reclassifications, and compensation-related decisions
• Collaborate with HR Operations to support onboarding, employee transitions, and overall HR service delivery
• Partner with Organizational Development to align training initiatives with organizational priorities, including creation, facilitation, and delivery of training content when required
• Maintain accurate and timely recruitment and workforce-related data within applicable systems
• Identify workforce trends, risks, and operational challenges and recommend actions to leadership
• Support organizational changes including restructuring efforts, workforce transitions, and role alignment
• Use data and workforce insights to inform decision-making and improve workforce outcomes
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures
• Build and maintain effective working relationships across departments and leadership teams
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of HR service delivery
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to streamline HR processes, improve service delivery, and enhance the employee experience across city departments
• Mentor and provide guidance to HR Business Partners and other HR professionals to promote consistency, professional development, and HR best practices
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business/Public Administration, or related field with at least five (5) years of progressively responsible human resources experience, including recruitment and employee relations or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Valid US driver’s license
• HR certification (SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR) required within one (1) year of employment
• Demonstrated experience partnering with executive and senior leadership to develop and implement strategic human capital initiatives
• Knowledge of HR principles and practices including recruitment, employee relations, performance management, and workforce planning
• Experience working with applicant tracking systems (ATS) to manage job postings, candidate applications, interview workflows, and hiring documentation
• Experience leading full-cycle recruitment and developing workforce strategies across multiple business units
• Familiarity with maintaining accurate candidate records, tracking applicant progress, and generating recruitment-related reports
• Knowledge of HR practices within complex, highly regulated, public-facing, or operationally intensive environments, with strong accountability, confidentiality, and sound judgment
• Ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, and employment laws consistently and practically
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to influence leadership and build trust
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Ability to analyze workforce data and identify trends to support decision-making
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment in sensitive situations
• Strong analytical skills using workforce data and HR metrics for strategic decision-making
• Ability to build effective working relationships across all levels of the organization

Work Environment

• Office Work: primarily sedentary work involving prolonged sitting, computer use, telephone and office equipment operation, and standard office tasks. Requires visual acuity, hearing, and manual dexterity for reviewing documents, analyzing data, and completing administrative responsibilities.
• Field Work: requires standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, pushing, pulling, and lifting or carrying objects up to 10 pounds occasionally. Employees may encounter uneven terrain, traffic, construction areas, and outdoor weather conditions and must use appropriate personal protective equipment.
• General Requirements: occasional travel to meetings, evening events, and after-hours response as needed to support a 24-hour municipal operation. All work is performed in compliance with applicable State and Federal OSHA regulations, including hazard communication, personal protective equipment, and slip, trip, and fall prevention.

Application Status Updates

• After the closing date, applications will be screened by Human Resources. Applicants who meet the minimum and/or preferred qualifications will be referred to the hiring department.
• All updates regarding an application can be viewed through your applicant portal.